Deep boring apparatus



Nov. 7, 1933. I B. RUHL v I 1,934,329

' DEEP BORING APPARATUS Filed March 16, 1929 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 In ventor:

Nov. 7, 1933.- B. RUHL DEEP BORING APPARATUS Filed March 16, 1929 7 Sheefs-Sheet 2 Nov. 7, 1933. B, RUHL 1,934,329

DEEP BORING APPARATUS Filed March 1929 '7 Sheets-Shest 3 Nov. 7, 1933.

B. RUHL DEEP BORING APPARATUS Filed March 6. 1929 '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Nov. 7, 1933. B. RUHL DEEP BORING APPARATUS 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 16, 1929 /n venlvr:

Nov. 7, 1933. B. RUHL DEEP BORING APPARATUS Filed March 16, 1929 7 Sheets-Sheet -6 VI /l. O

Nov. 7, 1933. B. RUHL 1,934,329

DEEP BORING APPARATUS Filed March 1929 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 VIII/IIIIIII/IIA All! Patented Nov. 7, 1933 UNITED STATES 1,934,329 DEEP some APPARATUS Bernhard Riihl, Palenberg, Germany Application March 16, 1929, Serial No. 347,483,

and in Germany November 30, 1928 12' Claims. (Cl. 255-3) This invention relates to improvements'in well drilling systems or rigs especially adapted for use in drilling deep wells, one object of the invention being to effect improvements by which the drilling tool is adapted to operate by impact and in which the tool is suspended from a rope and wherein for intermittently rotating the suspended drilling tool a tube or pipe is employed which conducts the flushing liquid into the well.

Another object is to efiect improvements by means of which the drilling tool is so connected with the pipe as to rotate with the same and is secured to the lower end thereof by means permitting the impact movement of the drill tobe continuously carried out without interruption.

A further object of the invention is to effect improvements embodying a bearing anged in the derrick and in which the rotation o the drill tube is eifected by means cooperating with the bearing through which the drill tubevertically extends and which enables the drill tube to be moved vertically as required to lower the same progressively during the drilling of the well.

Another object is to efiect improvements by means of which partial rotary movement is imparted to the drilling tool through a predetermined angle after each lifting movement of the same.

Another object is to effect improvements in the construction of the drilling tool embodying reamer jaws or supplementary cutting-jaws which are disposed above the drill cutter and which project laterally from the tube and serve to drill a well which is of greater diameter than that of the tube, so that an annular space is provided around the tube to facilitate the downward feed of the tube and permit the liquid for. flushing the well to flow upwardly without being obstructed and to also remove the sludge constituting the drilling debris.

Another object is to effect improvements in the construction and arrangement of the drill tube, the drill tool and the cutter, so that when drilling through springs or gas pockets the liquids flowing comes so heavy as to make its rotation economically lncxpedient, in the further drilling of the well.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of devices hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is an elevation of the drilling derrick with the driving mechanism, stand pipe and drill- 5 ins p pe.

Figures 2 and 3 are respectively a detail vertical section and a side elevation of the mounting of the cable sheaves in the top portion of the drilling derrick, together with the drill screwing and unscrewing device. 7

Figure 4 is an elevation and partial section of the turn table with the drive for the drill pipe screwing and unscrewing device and a section of the drill pipe.

Figure 5 is a detail plan of the same.

Figure 6 is a detail plan of one of the rings and the gripping balls for gripping and turning the drill pipe.

Figure 7 is a detail central section oi. the same. Figure 8 is a view of the power drive for the drilling mechanism with the drilling beam and a section through a portion of the drill pipe with the stand pipe.

Figure 9 is a plan of the same. v Figures 10 and 11 are a complete section through the drilling tool assembly of the tube in which the drilling tool assembly is supported.

Figures 12 and 13 are sections of a complete drilling tool assembly in which the turbine is employed.

Figure 14 is a section on line b-b of Figure 12. Figure 15 is a section on line H of Figure 12. The attachment and detachment of the individual sections of the flushing tube 48, according to this invention, is carried out by means of a tube attaching and detaching device located in the upper section'of the derrick 1. This device consists 01 a frame in the yc .'e 2 which is guided on vertical bars 3. Within this yoke 2 is a bearing 4 with balls 5.- A gear 6 rotates on said bearing. The tube connecting union8 is attached to the lower end of the tubular shaft 7 of the gear 6. This shaft is supported by the ring 7 beneath the bearing '4. A beveled pinion 9 en-' gages'the gear 6 and this pinion is connected wth the driving pulley 11 by means of a clutch .10, said pinion, pulley and clutch being mounted on a shaft 10 which shaft is mounted in bearings in the frame 2, as shown. Spindles in the Ill frame 2 carry hoisting pulleys 13 for suspending the pipe screwing and unscrewing mechanism from the hoisting cable 14.

The flushing pipe 15 extends through the bearing 4 and is provided at its upper end with a flushing hopper 16 having an inlet 1'7. The flushing hopper 16 is closed at its upper end by a stuffing box 18. At the lower end of pipe 15 is a conically shaped annular brush 19, by means of which the water is wiped from the rope 138 which is guided through said flushing pipe 15 and which serves for imparting the impact to the drill tool. The water is brushed off this rope 138 when it is being lifted or pulled upward. A stirrup or bale 21 for connection with a rope 20 is pivotally mounted at the upper end of the said pipe 15.

The device for attaching and detaching the tube 48 is suspended, therefore, from the rope 14 which is trained around the pulleys 13. This device, therefore, may be raised and lowered and is guided on the bars 3. The rope 14 is attached to the drum 23 and may be wound thereon and unwound therefrom and is guided over the sheaves 24' and pulleys 13 and 25. The unwinding of this rope 14 from the drum 23 is effected by means of a motor 26 and interposed'gearing 27.

For actuating the device which serves for attaching or detaching the tubes 48 there is provided an endless driving rope 30 which is trained over sheaves 35 and 31 and is also guided over the sheave 11, the rollers 34 and the driving pulley 36. In order to maintain this rope 30 taut, a tension roller 37 is provided which may be adjusted by means of the screw spindle 38,

this assembly of parts being located on the bear-- ing bracket 39.

Near the lower portion of the derrick l the device for imparting rotation to the series of drill tubes is provided. This device comprises the bevel gear 40, Figure 4, having the ball race-way 40 and provided with a depending tubular shaft 40 whereby it is supported in the bearing sleeve 41 and rests on ball bearing 42. The ball bearing race-way 40 contains balls 44 disposed therein in the manner illustrated in Figures 6 and 7 so that upon rotation of the tubes in one direction the balls 44 are pressed against the tubes 48 and while clamped therein rotate said tubes about their axis, while upon rotation in the opposite dimotion or upon cessation of the rotation, this engagement is interrupted so that the series of tubes 48 may freely turn intermediate said balls 44, the entire race-way 43 then merely serving for lending assistance to the vertical guidance of the tubes.

An intermediary transmission gear 2'7, Figure 1, drives a chain 28 for actuating another set of gears 29 located in a more elevated portion of the derrick. From this gearing 29 rotation is transmitted to a shaft'a which carries a beveled pinion 45 which engages the gear 40. This transmission is effected by means of the chain b and chain sprocket c. The chain sprocket c is loose on the shaft a and is provided with a clutch 47, Figure 5.

The shaft a also supports the second half of nected with the loose sprocket c and from the sprocket d a chain c extends'to the sprocket wheel 3911 which also is associated with a clutch. From here the transmission is continued through the gearing 39 and through the chain drive f. Owing to the interposition of the clutch 47 the operator may now actuate both of these devices independently of each other. This arrangement has the further advantage that the device for rotating the tubes 48 is always protected against entry of dirt and dust, and facilitates inspection during operation. When emergency conditions arise, the clutch 47 can immediately be released and the rotating means for the tubes may thereby be rendered inoperative.

The construction of the drilling tool assembly is shown in Figures 10 and 11, including also the details for holding the same in fixed position in the lower part of the series of tubes. Figure 11 constitutes a continuation of Figure 10 downwardly.

The tube 48 containing the clamping device has a plurality of inwardly projecting lugs or shoulders 49. The drilling tool assembly which is arranged within this tube 48 comprises the cylinder 50, the lower section of which is reduced in diameter so as to provide a shoulder 51. Within the upper part of the cylinder 50 is a head 52 through which the tubular rod 53 is guided, the packing being effected by a stuffing box 54. Within the head 52 are located spring controlled valves 55 which are pulled downward to their seats by a weight 56 to which they are connected. The rod 53 is guided to extend through this weight 56, said weight having a downward extension in the form of a tapering projection. The passageway for the rod 53 within the weight 56 is of square cross section for the purpose of guiding said rod 53. Said rod is further secured in its guide by the collar 58 associated with the tion of the weight 56 and the tapering guide 5'7 of the same. The rod 53 is tubular and is provided at its upper end with an inlet opening 61 for the flushing liquid and is connected with a rope swivel 66 by means of a ball bearing support 63. The rod andv weight, therefore, are suspended from the rope 138. When this assembly of elements is lowered the shoulder 51 will engage the uppermost annular projection 49' of the tube 48. The clamping jaws 60 are then spread outward by the taper 57 when the rope is under tension, and the lower body portions 59 are then drawn inward. As soon, however, as the assembly strikes the bottom of the drill hole, the taper 57 engages the clamping jaws 59 and presses the lower part of these clamping jaws outwardly so that projections on the lower parts'of the clamping jaws 59 engage underneath the lowermost annular shoulder 51 of the tubes 48, thereby clamping the entire assembly of the drilling device within the tubes and holding it at such point. The weighted rod 53 also extends into the guide element 64. This guide element preferably is composed of a plurality of sections and it term1- nates in the guide 67, which being fitted on the squared lower portion of the tubular rod 53,

prevents rotation of said guide element. Above the transverse guide 6'7 there is a spring 68 to compensate for excess impact of the drilling cutter or for irregular feeding ofthe rope. 69

indicates an extension of the tubular rod 53 for conducting the flushing liquid from said rod to the lower portions of the drill tool assembly.

In the lowermost section of the guide body 64 is supported a bushing or sleeve 71. This sleeve has near its upper end a circular series of openings 65 for permitting the flushing liquid to pass therethrough and for conducting it through passages 72. A plunger '74 is movable within the sleeve '71 on a bar 73. This bar also is provided witha head or enlargement '75 above which there is disposed a strong spring 76 acting from below against the plunger -'74 This spring has a tendency to force the plunger upward when the plunger is not forced downward by flushing liquid. Another spring 77 is located below the head surrounding the bar 73. This spring '77 is weaker and rests at the lower end against the head '78. This lower spring has the object of producing an inward movement of jaws 80 which are integral with geared sectors '79, said sectors engaging two rack bars '79 on the head 78. These jaws or extensions 80 are reamer extensions which produce a lateral smoothing of the drill hole. Through the action of the spring 77 these lateral :eamer cutters 80 may be drawn inward to permit the entire assembly to be lifted out of the drill hole. .The flushing liquid passes through the opening 65 and passages 72 over the reamer cutters 80 and flows past said reamer cutters to pass downward into the still 81 of the drilling cutter and leave the drilling cutter through the mouth 82 at the bottom.

It will be understood that the rotary downward feed of the string of tubes furthermore makes possible ,an accurate vertical feeding movement in the drilling movement and it produces a circular hole. The lifting of the drilling cutter or entire drilling tool from the hole is made possible by pulling this assembly of parts upward through the tubes in the simplest way. The drilling cutter and the parts connected therewith may, there fore, be inspected at any time quite readily as to their usefulness and efficiency and they may turbine drill assembly is then introduced by means of the rope 20 and the shackle 66 into the series of tubes 48 and the fresh water pump which had been stopped during this exchange operation is again operated.

Figures 12 to 15 illustrate the drill cutteras;

sembly with the turbine forming a part hereof.

The cylinder 50' which tapers downwardly on its outer surface will become stuck within the series of tubes 48 and will be held on the shoulders 49; The series of tubes, therefore, constitutes a support or abutment as in the case of the impact drill.. In-order to resist the reactive forces which are produced upon rotary movement or drilling movement respectively, the turbine casing 127 is arranged in the upper part of the cylinder 50. Within this casing or housing 127 a turbine wheel 128 is arranged and is secured to the weighted rod 53'. See also the closure connection of Figure 14. A cover or hood .129 is located above the directing disc in this turbine, and two pipes 130 extend vertically through the same. These pipes have small open-.

-ings 131, preventing thereby the. passage of through which the feed water leaves the turbine to be carried off through theweighted rod.

On this weighted rod there is also mounted the gear 133 which is in engagement withtwo pinions 134 which are both in engagement with the element 135. This element 135 with its teeth is continued downward in the form of a tubular shaft 136 and is supported by means of ball bearings 137 within the cylinder 50'. The shaft 136 is equipped with the smoothing reamers 80' and the rotary drill cutting tool. (Figure 13 is a continuation of Figure 12).

This drilling operation by means of a turbine is particularly of importance when the drilling operation has proceeded to a great depth and when it becomes advisable on account of the great length of the series of'tubes to discontinue the rotation of said tubes. The series of tubes is then fed downward in accordance with 'the in crease in the depth of the well, while the drilling assembly including the turbine is located therein. Instead of using an ordinary rotary drill, there may also be employed a rotary drill of the core type.

The operation of the device is as follows: After the stand pipe or well casing 94 has been intro-- duced and secured until it contacts the clay,

'a portion of the seriesof tubes 48 is introduced into the same by means of the tube attaching and detaching device suspended from the tackle and pulley rope 14. The series of tubes, therefore, extends through the rotary platform of the device. The union 8 is then removed and the drill tool assembly suspended from the rope 138 is inserted into the series of tubes. During this insertion this assembly of the drilling tool is then held or locked respectively on that tube section 40 which is especially built for this purpose. The flush pumps are now started up and the entire series of tubes up to the assembly of' the drilling tools is filled with flushing liquid. As soon as the flushing liquid has reached a height to be discharged from the outlet 94w of the casing 94, the mechanism on the platform is put in operation.

The impact tool is raised by means of the rope 138 which is unwound from the drum 139 and which is guided over rollers 140'of the beam 141, said rollers being adjustable to permit a1- teration of the length of the stroke. The oscillatory movement is transmitted to the beam by means of a connecting rod 142 and a crank disc 143. The drive of this mechanism is effected from the motor 26 by means of chains or the like. To render the operation of the beam 141 uniform. a dash-pot or equalizing pump 144 is connected with this beam. By tightening and assembly corresponding to the advance of the v drilling operation. After the series of tubes by downward drilling has reached with its upper end the level of the rotary platform, this series of tubes is extended by putting. on top of it an additional tube.

This attachment is made while the pumps and the rotary platform are stopped. The device for attaching the additional tubing is then actuated.

The additional tube section is secured to the series of tubes by means of the union 8 which is then again unscrewed from the series of tubes. The detaching device is then again raised from the extended string. The drill tool assembly has been withdrawn from the series of tubes by winding up the rope 138 until the connecting swivel is above the upper edge of the string of tubes.

An iron rod is positioned through this swivel resting on the upper edge of the tube section and thereby supporting the drill tool assembly in the series of tubes which has been fed downward. The rope 138 is then detached from the drill tool assembly while the latter is supported on said iron bar and this rope 138 is then introduced through the section by means of which the series of tubes is to be extended. This rope is then anchored to the lower end of said extension tube. The extension tube with the rope is lifted upon its contact with the union 8, and the union is positioned on the tube and then secured thereto. After this has been accomplished the rope 138 is again connected with the swivel at the top of the drill tool assembly, the transverse iron bar is withdrawn and the extension tube is then screwed at its lower end to that series of tubes which already is in the well. The drill tool assembly is then reintroduced into the series of tubes and the flushing pump is started again, whereupon the drilling operation can be continued. These steps are repeated until the desired depth of the well has been achieved or the desired drilling result has been accomplished.

Where the operator desires to drill to a depth of, for instance, more than 2000 meters, the intermittent rotation of the drill tool assembly effectedby intermittently turning the series of tubes would be uneconomical as pointed out above. There would also be danger of the series of tubes bending or being kinked. The impact tool device is then raised, the rope 138 is clamped on the clamps 22 and another drill device is lowered by means of the rope 20 which is wound up on a drum actuated by the motor 26, which is guided over the sheave 25. This second drill device comprises a turbine actuated by the flushing water and adapted to rotate a suitable drilling tool. Owing to the continued feed of the series of tubes which now do not have to be rotated intermittently, the well can be drilled deeper, whereby those advantages are maintained which are due to the proportionate extension of the series of tubes.

What I claim is:

1. In a deep boring system the combination of a percussion boring device, comprising a percussion rope 138 a boring bit attached thereto, said rope passing over adjustable pulleys 140 on a boring beam 141, said boring beam being given an oscillatory motion through a connecting rod 142 and a crank disc 143, the drive of which being taken from a motor 26 and a compensating pump 124 which maintains the boring beam in uniform motion, and a positive step by step turning mechanism for turning the boring unit on each up and down travel of the bit.

2. In a deep boring system the combination of a percussion boring device, comprising a percussion rope passing over pulleys on a boring beam, this beam being given an oscillatory motion through a connecting rod and a crank disc driven from a motor, apositive step by step turning mechanism for turning the boring unit on each up and down travel of the bit, consisting of a ball race bushing 40 provided with a bevel wheel 40 which is intermittently turned by a ratchet mechanism interposed between said bevel wheel and said crank disc, the balls of the ball race being so arranged that upon rotating they press against the drill pipe and turn it around without impeding the vertical movement thereof.

3. In a boring system the combination of a percussion boring device, comprising a percussion rope passing over pulleys on a boring beam, this beam being given an oscillatory motion through a connecting rod and a crank disc driven from a motor, a positive turning mechanism for the boring unit, consisting of a ball race bushing which is provided with a bevel wheel and turned intermittently by a ratchet mechanism, the balls of the ball race being so arranged that upon rotating they press against the drill pipe and turn it around, the -boring unit being clamped in a tubular portion 48 of the drill pipe by means of a projecting collar 49, on the top of which a cylinder 50 of the boring unit rests, thus forming a water tight seal with the bore pipe 48, clamping cheeks 59, against the tongues of which acts a cone 57 associated with a weight 56 which is movable relatively to the head piece of the cylinder 50, and valves 55 in said head piece, the valve spindle of which supports said weight, there being further provided a hollow s em, attached to the percussion rope 138, through which the flushing liquid passes to the boring tools, which are suspended therefrom.

4. In a deep boring system the combination of a percussion boring device, comprising a percussion rope passing over pulleys on a boring beam, this beam being given an oscillatory motion through a connecting rod and a crank disc driven from a motor, a positive turning mechanism for the boring unit, consisting of a ball race bushing which is provided with a bevel wheel and turned intermittently by a ratchet 1 5 mechanism, the balls of the ball race being so arranged that upon rotating they press against the drill pipe and turn it around, the boring unit being clamped on a tubular portion of the drill pipe, there being further provided a hollow stem terminating at its bottom member in a sliding member and means for feeding down the boring pipe comprising a mechanism which consists of a bearing 4 arranged in a frame 2 and driven by toothed gears 6, 9 and having a 5 screwing sleeve 8 at the bottom, the drive being carried out by means of a motor and an endless rope passed over pulleys 35, 36, said frame being suspended by a hoisting cable 14 which is raised and lowered from a drum 23 mechanically by means of a motor 26.

5. In a boring system of the class described,

a derrick, a frame mounted for vertical movement in the derrick, hoisting means for 'the frame, a tubular bearing in the frame arranged for rotation, means to rotate said tubular bearing, a flushing pipe slidably mounted in the tubular bearing, a drill pipe arranged to be connected to and disconnected from the tubular bearing by rotation of the latter, a percussion boring unit in the drill pipe, hoisting means for the boring unit for raising and droppin the latter, and hoisting means for the flushing pipe and means to rotate the drill pipe.

6. A boring system as claimed in claim 5, in which the revoluble tubular bearing is provided with gear teeth and including a shaft mounted in bearings and having a pinion engaging said gear teeth and also provided with a pulley, and

an endless cable engaging said pulley and arranged to rotate the same in said shaft and hence also the said toothed tubular bearing.

7. A boring system as claimed in claim 5, in-

cluding a union sleeve attached to said tubularbearing and threadedly connected to the drill pipe.

8. A deep boring system comprising a derrick, a drill pipe, a turning device by which the drill pipe may be rotated and through which the drill pipe may descend, a percussion boring unit in the drill pipe, means to raise and drop said boring unit, means whereby the boring unit may be firmly connected to the lower end of the drill pipe for rotation therewith and thereby and means by which the entire drill pipe is filled with flushing liquid for washing out the slush formed by the drilling operation of the system which liquid is deliveredtherethrough to the boring unit and so that the slush is washed out by the flushing liquid about the bore hole formed around the drill pipe.

9. In a boring system of the class described, a derrick, a drill pipe, a percussion boring unit in the drill pipe, means to impart step-by-step rotation to'the drill pipe, means to operate the boring unit, and to remove the same from the drill pipe when the latter ceases to rotate, and a rotary boring unit, adapted to be substituted for the percussion boring unit when the latter is removed from the drill pipe, to enable the work to be continued after the drill pipe ceases to rotate.

10. A system as claimed in claim 9, in which the rotary boring unit includes a turbine for operating the boring element.

11. In apparatus of the class described, a drill pipe element having inwardly extending shoulders 49 on its inner side, acylinder 50 in said drill pipe element having a shoulder bearing on one of those of the drill pipe, clamping jaws pivotally connected to the lower portion of said cylinder, movable radially thereof and each having a shoulder to engage under one of the shoulders of the drill pipe element and each also provided at its upperend with an inwardly and upwardly extending camming arm 60, a weight movable vertically in the cylinder and having a conical cam at its lower end to coact with the clamping jaws to move the latter outwardly on downward motion of said weight and to coact with the camming arm of said jaws to move the latter inwardly on upward movement of said weight, said cylinder having a head above the weight provided with, openings, vertically movable valves to open and close said openings, said weight being carried by and suspended from said valves, and a flushing pipe extending vertically downwardly through bores with which said cylinder head and said weight are provided, said flushing pipe having an inlet opening at a point above the cylinder and a hoisting cable attached to said flushing pipe.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11, including a drilling tool below the cylinder and to which the flushing pipe leads.

BERNHARD RtiHL. 

